THE SUCCESS OF DAVID PART 1
Was David Successful?
David was one of the most respected kings of all time. He was also a great psalmist and prophet. Above all, he was a man after God's own heart. Surely, that is a description of success. I believe that David achieved great success in his lifetime. You can read the Scriptures for yourself.
And he died in a GOOD OLD AGE, FULL OF DAYS, RICHES, and HONOUR: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles 29:28
David had a long and eventful life. At the end of his life, he was rich, he was respected and he even had a successor-his own son, Solomon.
What an interesting description: full of age, full of riches, full of honor, and with a successor! David, however, did not get to this point easily. He suffered and struggled through many situations. David often came to crossroads and had to take important decisions. Many of the things he did as a young man contributed to his eventual outcome as a successful person.
The holy Scriptures teach us to learn from the examples of those who have gone ahead of us.
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:12;
So I want to share some principles that I believe David lived by which made him successful. If we choose to live by them we will be successful too.
Principle # 1: The Principle of Small Beginnings
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness?…
1 Samuel 17:28
Do not be afraid of small beginnings; God will lift you up. You will benefit from all the experiences you have had in your small beginnings. It was when David was looking after the few sheep that he had a fight with a bear and a lion. It is because he was used to fighting impossible situations that he was able to take on Goliath.
When you have preached a thousand times to a hundred people, you will not wet your pants in fright when God lifts you up to minister to a crowd of one thousand.
Don't Rush Success. Why are you in a hurry to be successful? If you make a mistake with a hundred dollars, it will be easier for you to recover than if you make that same mistake with a hundred thousand dollars.
Any businessman who is able to succeed with a small amount of money can succeed with a larger amount of money. Smallness is a necessary stage in the kingdom of God. It is a necessary stage for every business executive. It humbles you and makes you trust in God.
Jesus taught us three principles of progress:
• The principle of being faithful with small things (Luke 16:10).
• The principle of being faithful with another man's things.(Luke 16:12).
• The principle of being faithful with money (Luke 16:11).
You cannot circumvent any one of these laws. Start small and harden your forehead. Avoid people who would laugh at you and despise you. Stay with those who believe in you. Do not tell people what you are doing if they do not respect you. You can make it! God is on your side! God is with you! The Greater One is with you and in you!
Do not run away from small beginnings. They are God's training ground for you. That is how King David got his education- in the school of small beginnings!
Principle # 2: The Principle of Doing Menial Jobs with Joy
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his ARMOURBEARER.
1 Samuel 16:21
When studying the life of David, you learn that though he became king, he first performed many menial jobs. In his father's house, he was a shepherd. Whilst at the king's palace, he did the work of a musician, servant, errand boy and armor-bearer. He wasn't even a soldier! There are so many Christians who want to start out on top! But the only job that begins at the top is grave digging!
If you study the background of many great people, you will discover that they once served at the lowest level in their profession. Do not shy away from menial jobs.
The best leader is someone who has been a follower for many years. Because you have done menial jobs, you are more reasonable with your subordinates. You understand what they are going through and do not give impossible commands. Some leaders do not know the implications of their instructions. They just say, "Get this done!" You must understand that getting certain things done may have far-reaching implications.
Principle # 3: The Principle of Turning away from Those Who Despise You
…ELIAB'S ANGER WAS KINDLED AGAINST DAVID, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? And HE TURNED FROM HIM TOWARD ANOTHER…
1 Samuel 17:28-30
This Scripture describes the persecution David faced from his brothers. Eliab, obviously intimidated by David, hurled insults at him just when he was about to fight with Goliath. The world has two types of people: those who believe in you and those who have no confidence in you. Learn to turn away from people who despise you.
Every leader should learn to detect the spirit of critical and hateful people. Rejection is a spiritual thing and can be discerned spiritually.
No one can flourish in a negative environment. In some places, poor and uneducated people are despised. It is important to turn away from an environment where you are despised. You can only flourish where people respect and love you.
Principle # 4: The Principle of Choosing and Staying with What You Have Tested
And Saul armed David with his armor…And David said unto Saul, I CANNOT GO WITH THESE; FOR I HAVE NOT PROVED THEM. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones…and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:38-40
This was the turning point in David's ministry. He had an opportunity to have his greatest breakthrough - it was a matter of do or die! As he went forth, he was to make one of the most important decisions of his life: to wear Saul's armor or not! He decided against wearing Saul's armor and opted for his slingshot with just five smooth stones. In this act, you see the principle of choosing what you have tested. You can apply this in these areas
I. Marry the Person You Know!
Certain Christians behave normally up until the time they are about to get married. Instead of marrying someone whom they know, they go for a mysterious personality whom nobody knows. David refused to use Saul's armor because he hadn't tested it. How can you marry someone you hardly know?
II. Your Slingshot Will Lead You to Victory
In business, every field is different. Stay with the five smooth stones that have brought you victory in the past. If you use them in the day of your greatest challenge, you shall prosper!
In the subsequent sermons of this series we will explore additional principles that made David successful.
